Dear Brother ___________,

I saw your message when I came to work this morning. Thank you for your kind wishes! We had our son and daughter-in-law with us over the holidays. We used to live just a couple of miles apart in Berrien Springs, Michigan, but in September my wife and I moved here for my change of job. So we felt blessed that our "kids" drove more than 10 hours each way to be with us at Thanksgiving.

I spent a little time with the "Comprehensive Index to the Ellen G. White Writings," originally published in three volumes in the early 1960s and more recently updated with a fourth volume that covers books published between then and about 1'0. The index is still available in book form, but it is also on our CD-ROM of Mrs. White's published writings. I looked up "Impressions." Here are some of the entries I found:

In the context of how to carry out the church's work effectively, Mrs. White wrote, "Impressions alone are not a safe guide to duty. The enemy often persuades men to believe that it is God who is guiding them, when in reality they are following only human impulse. But if we watch carefully, and take counsel with our brethren, we shall be given an understanding of the Lord's will; for the promise is, 'The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way.' Psalm 25:9." {AA 279.2}

Similarly, she wrote this counsel to our ministers about their work:

I am free to say to our brethren who with humility of heart are following the counsel of the Lord: If you know that God would have you engage in any work, go forward. Those who have the light and consciousness that God is leading need not depend upon any human agent to define their work. They are to receive the counsel of the highest Authority. Safety and peace and calm assurance are to be found only by following the counsel of the greatest Teacher that ever lived in our world. Let us not turn away from His unerring counsel. {TM 502.1}

But our impressions are not always a safe guide to duty. Human impulse will try to make us believe that it is God who is guiding us when we are following our own way. But if we watch carefully, and counsel with our brethren, we shall understand; for the promise is, "The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way." We must not allow human ideas and natural inclinations to gain the supremacy. {TM 502.2}

In the context of discussing the case of Anna Phillips, a woman who mistook her impressions for direct messages from God, Mrs. White wrote:

Every conceivable message is coming to counterfeit the work of God, and always bearing the inscription of truth upon its banner.... {2SM 92.3}

It is no light matter to substitute for God's revealed will, opinions and assertions, dreams, symbols, and figures from human, finite beings. Our actions, words, spirit, and influence are watched and criticized. Those whom God has chosen to be His ministers are to settle solidly into His Word, and let the Word of God be their authority.... {2SM 93.1}

At this time above all others, hasty judgment, opinions formed carelessly, without sufficient evidence, may lead to most disastrous results. When we trace from cause to effect, we shall find that harm has thus been done which in some cases can never be remedied. Oh, what wisdom and fine spiritual perceptions are needed in giving food to the flock of God, that it be pure provender, thoroughly winnowed. The natural, hereditary traits of the character need a firm curb, else earnest zeal, good purposes, will run into evil, and the excess of feeling will produce such impressions upon human hearts that they will be carried away by impulse and will allow impressions to become their guide. {2SM 93.2}

A curb must be kept upon the spiritual impulse, that no injudicious words shall be spoken, no overwrought ideas expressed, that shall cause impulsive persons to lose their bearings. There are some whose feelings are quickly stirred by strong assertions, and their imagination magnifies the statement to large dimensions; it all appears real to them, and they become fanatical. The spiritual experience is fevered, diseased. When persons yield their will in perfect submission to the will of God, and the spirit is humble and teachable, the Lord will correct them by His Holy Spirit, and lead them into safe paths.--Letter 66, 1894. {2SM 93.3}

Mrs. White wrote the following in the context of commenting on confession of sin--whether it should be public or not:

Men have not the wisdom from God and the constant enlightenment from the Source of all power that would make it safe for them to follow impulses or impressions. In my experience I have seen this done to the destruction, not only of those who acted upon this principle, but of many others who came under their influence. The wildest extravagance was the result of this impulsive work. A declension in faith followed, and unbelief and skepticism became strong in proportion to the extreme in religious excitement. The work that is not wrought in God comes to nought as soon as the excitement is over. {5T 647.1}

There is power and permanency in what the Lord does, whether He works by human instrumentality or otherwise. The progress and perfection of the work of grace in the heart are not dependent upon excitement or extravagant demonstration. Hearts that are under the influence of the Spirit of God will be in sweet harmony with His will. I have been shown that when the Lord works by His Holy Spirit, there will be nothing in its operations which will degrade the Lord's people before the world, but it will exalt them. The religion of Christ does not make those who profess it coarse and rough. The subjects of grace are not unteachable, but ever willing to learn of Jesus and to counsel with one another. {5T 647.2}

In discussing the need to let the Bible be our guide, Mrs. White wrote (in the introduction to The Great Controversy):

Great reproach has been cast upon the work of the Holy Spirit by the errors of a class that, claiming its enlightenment, profess to have no further need of guidance from the word of God. They are governed by impressions which they regard as the voice of God in the soul. But the spirit that controls them is not the Spirit of God. This following of impressions, to the neglect of the Scriptures, can lead only to confusion, to deception and ruin. It serves only to further the designs of the evil one. Since the ministry of the Holy Spirit is of vital importance to the church of Christ, it is one of the devices of Satan, through the errors of extremists and fanatics, to cast contempt upon the work of the Spirit and cause the people of God to neglect this source of strength which our Lord Himself has provided. {GC vii, viii}

In reproving fanaticism in our early days, Mrs. White wrote: "Impressions and feelings are no sure evidence that a person is led by the Lord. Satan will, if he is unsuspected, give feelings and impressions. These are not safe guides. All should thoroughly acquaint themselves with the evidences of our faith, and the great study should be how they can adorn their profession and bear fruit to the glory of God. None should take a course to make themselves disgusting to unbelievers. We should be chaste, modest, and elevated in conversation, and blameless in life." {1T 413.1}

In another such warning, she wrote, "Everything seemed prepared for the work of Satan. He led many on to lay aside reason and judgment, and to be governed by impressions. The Lord requires His people to use their reason, and not lay it aside for impressions. His work will be intelligible to all His children. His teaching will be such as will commend itself to the understanding of intelligent minds. It is calculated to elevate the mind. God's power is not manifested upon every occasion. Man's necessity is God's opportunity. {1T 230.2}

But not every impression is evil. Look at what she wrote here about impressions that the Spirit makes on the heart, to draw us to Jesus: "The wind is heard among the branches of the trees, rustling the leaves and flowers; yet it is invisible, and no man knows whence it comes or whither it goes. So with the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart. It can no more be explained than can the movements of the wind. A person may not be able to tell the exact time or place, or to trace all the circumstances in the process of conversion; but this does not prove him to be unconverted. By an agency as unseen as the wind, Christ is constantly working upon the heart. Little by little, perhaps unconsciously to the receiver, impressions are made that tend to draw the soul to Christ. These may be received through meditating upon Him, through reading the Scriptures, or through hearing the word from the living preacher. Suddenly, as the Spirit comes with more direct appeal, the soul gladly surrenders itself to Jesus. By many this is called sudden conversion; but it is the result of long wooing by the Spirit of God,--a patient, protracted process." {DA 172.3}

So there are dangers in following impressions unless our actions are governed by reason and the Word of God. You will likely always have feelings, impressions, etc., and this is not itself bad. Use them as an occasion to seek God's Word for guidance, to pray, and to use your God-given mind to evaluate matters and make sound decisions, not just following your feelings.

Have you read the book "Steps to Christ"? It is a wonderful little volume, and only 13 chapters long. If you read one a day, you can be done in less than two weeks. Included in it is a chapter called "Growing Up Into Christ." Portions of it may be helpful to you, but I would encourage you to read the whole book, not just one chapter.

Thank you for getting back in touch. May God lead you as you seek to find and know His guidance.

William Fagal
Associate Director
Ellen G. White Estate
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600 U.S.A.
Phone: 301 680-6550
FAX: 301 680-6559
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.WhiteEstate.org